Nonpoint Source Water Pollution

Overview

The Office of Water Quality manages two federal pass-through grant programs aimed at improving water quality in the state: Section 319(h) and Section 205(j); each named after the portion of the Clean Water Act that authorizes the program.

The federal Clean Water Act Section 205(j) provides funding for water quality management planning, which is then allocated by each state. The act states that the grants are to be used for water quality management and planning, including, but not limited to:

Identifying most cost effective and locally acceptable facility and non-point source measures to meet and maintain water quality standards;

Developing an implementation plan to obtain state and local financial and regulatory commitments to implement measures developed under subparagraph A;

Determining the nature, extent, and cause of water quality problems in various areas of the state. In previous cycles, grants have been awarded to municipal governments, county governments, regional planning commissions, and other public organizations.

The Section 205(j) program provides for projects that gather and map information on nonpoint and point source water pollution, develop recommendations for increasing the involvement of environmental and civic organizations in watershed planning and implementation activities, and develop and implement watershed management plans.

Projects are administered through grant agreements that spell out the tasks, schedule, and budget for the project. IDEM project managers work closely with the project sponsors to help ensure that the project runs smoothly and the tasks of the grant agreement are fulfilled. Site visits are conducted at least quarterly to touch base on the project, provide guidance and technical assistance as needed, and to work with the grantee on any issues that arise to ensure a successful project closeout.